Grinder for hay, fodder, grain, and the like



Se t. 5, 1933. E. M. WETMORE GRINDER FOR HAY, FODDER, GRAIN, AND THE LIKE Filed May 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 5, 1933.

E. M. WETMORE GRINDER FOR HAY. FODDER, GRAIN, AND THE LIKE Filed May 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 5, 1933 TENT OFFICE GRINDER FOR HAY, FODDER, GRAIN, f AND THE LIKE Earnest M. Wetmore, Tonkawa, Okla.

Application May 14, 1931. Serial No. 537,411

2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in grinders for hay,fodder,

comprising hammer-like arms or blades cooperat-' ing with bars or anvil-like members for the production of a percussive action to accomplish the grinding of the material.

Another object of the invention is to provide grinding apparatus of the foregoing character l wherein an endless feed table is provided for de livering material to the grinding mechanism having an endless feed membercooperating therewith and disposed above the same for compacting the material at its point of subjection to the grinding mechanism and for aiding in the feed- 20 ing thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide grinding apparatus of the character above set forth with suction apparatus associated with. the grinder for collecting and conveying the ground material to a point for storage or the like.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away of a grinding machine for hay, fodder, grain and the like constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine showing the operating mechanism for the movable parts of the grinder;

40 Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the endless feed table with the superposed'auxiliary material compressing and feeding means and the rotor carrying the hammer-.

likegrinder;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the grinding mechanism; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing a part of the operating mechanism for the endless feedtable.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, there'is illustrated a grinder for hay, fodder, grain and the like, comprising a casing or housing of elongated formation comprising side walls 10 inclined upwardly as at 11 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 to a horizontal section with the spaced sidewalls 10 at the horizontal section, connected by a cover 12 while the ends of theside walls 10 beyond the elevated cover section 12 are of arched formation as shown at 13 with the arched portions 13 of the two side walls connected by an arched cover wall 14, one end of the arched cover 14 extending from a point adjacent one end of the horizontal cover section 12 while the other end 14a of the arched cover forms an end wall for the casing or housing.

An endless feed table for supplying material to be ground to grinder mechanisms located within 1e arched end of the housing includes cross shafts 15 and 16 journalled respectively adjacent the outer lower end of the housing and centrally of the arched end of the housing in the side walls 10, each shaft carrying a sprocket wheel 17 fixed to each end thereof and over which sprocket chains 18 travel, the sprocket chains having spaced cross slats 19 fixed thereto for the. support of the material. A slack adjuster 20 shown in Figure 2 is associated with the bearings for the shafts 15 to maintain the rungs of the chains 18 of the endless feed table conveyor in a taut condition. I

A combined conveyor and compressor for the material on the endless feed table is arranged be neath the horizontal cover section 12 of the housing above the feed table and includes a shaft 21 journalled between the side walls 10 of the housing at the upper end of the inclined portions 11 thereof and a second shaft 22 journalled in brackets 23 carried by the lower ends of a curved apron 24, the upper end of which apron moves through the slotted opening between adjacent ends of the horizontal cover section 12 and arched cover 14 as shown in Figure 3. A sprocket wheel 25 is fixed to each end of the shafts 21 and 22 and sprocket chains 26 passing over the sprocket wheels carry spaced cross-slats 27, the compressor conveyor normally assuming the position shown in Figure 3 to accomplish compression of the material and also aid in the feeding of the material through the grinding mechanism, upward movement of the lower end of the compressor-conveyor causing the curved apron 24 to be raised to the dotted line position illustrated and preventing the material from passing'to a position above the compressor-conveyor.

The grinding mechanism is shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 4 and includes a shaft 28 journalled through the side arched wall sections 13 with a rotor on the shaft within the housing and fixed to'the shaft in the form of a plurality of disks 29 maintained in spaced relation'by spacer blocks 30, one end of the shaft 28 within the housing having a conical portion 31 cooperating with the nut 32 threaded upon the other end of the shaft for holding the disks 29 and spacer blocks 30 rigidly supported on the shaft. A circumferential series of rods 33 extend through the peripheral edges of the several disks 29 and said rods 33 carry outwardly directed hammer-like grinding arms 34 maintained in spaced relation by the blocks 35 on the rods between adjacent arms as shown in Figure 4. A series of spaced anvil bars 36 are fixed to the inner face of the arched cover wall 14 and extend between the arched side wall sections 13 for cooperation with the grinding arms 34 during rotation of the shaft 28 and disks 29 carrying the arms.

A curved screen plate 37 isset inwardly of the end wall section 14a of the housing and is arranged concentric to the outer edges of the hammer arms 34, the upper edge of the screen plate 37 being supported in the anvil bar 3641. while the lower edge of the screen plate is engaged with a bridge-piece 39 extending transversely of the housing, the bridge-piece being supported by the side walls and end wall 14a defining a trough 40 with the free transverse edge of the bridge 39 terminating adjacent the delivery end of the endless feed table. A spiral conveyor 41 carried by a shaft 42 is set into the trough 40 with the shaft iournalled in the side wall sections 13 of the housing, one end of the shaft 42 exteriorly of the housing as shown in Figure 2 carrying a suction fan 43 or the like conveying the ground material to a point for storage or use.

The operatingmechanism for the endless feed table, compressor-conveyor, spiral conveyor and exhaust fan receive their power from the shaft 28 of the rotary grinder, power being applied to the shaft 28 in any suitable manner, the connection between the shaft 28 and the shaft 42 including pulleys 44 and 45 mounted on the respective shafts and over which pulleys a belt 46 travels, the pulley 44 affording a drive for the screw conveyor 41 and the suction fan 43. The drive for the endless feed table and the combined material compressor and top feeder arranged above the feed table includes the pulley 4'? shown in Figures 1 and 2 that has a belt connection 48 with the shaft 28, the pulley 4'7 being supported on the shaft 49. An arm orlever 50 shown in Figures 2 and 5 is pivotally mounted as at 51 upon the side wall 10 of the housing beneath the horizontal cover section 12 and exteriorly of the housing with the ends thereof at opposite sides of the pivot 51 slotted as at52 and 53. A shaft 16a journalled exteriorly of the housing has a pair of arms 54 extending in opposite directions from said shaft and pivotally mounted thereon, the outer end of each arm 54 carrying a link 55 with the opposite ends of the links pivotally connected together by a pin 56 extending through the lever slots 52. Oppositely directed pawls 57 carried by the outer ends of the arms 54 engage a ratchet wheel 58 that is fixed to the shaft 16a and said shaft carries a pinion 59 engaged with a pinion 60 on the projecting end of the shaft 16. an eccentric link connection 61 with the lever 50 at one side of the pivot 51 for operating said lever and arms 54 with the pawls 5'7 operating to provide continuous rotation of the ratchet wheel 58 and shaft 16 and movement of the endless feed table. Similar mechanism is provided for the operation of the combined material compressor The pulley 47 has and upper conveyor, the shaft 21 having a pair of arms 62 pivoted thereon and extending in opposite directions, the arms 62 carrying oppositely directed pawls 63 for cooperation with the ratchet wheel 64 fixed to the shaft 21. A pair of links 65 connected to the outer ends of the arms 62 have their free ends connected by a pin 66 extending to the slots 53 of the lever 50, the oppositely directed pawls 63 effecting continuous rotation of the material compressor and upper conveyor upon reciprocating movements of the links 65 and pivotal movement in opposite directions of the arms 62.

The material is delivered to the grinder upon the upper run of the endless feed table adjacent the shaft end 15 thereof and is conveyed into the machine beneath the combined material compressor and upper conveyor, the latter moving upwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 to permit passage of the material to the grinding rotor where the material is picked up by the hammer-like arms 34 for grinding the material over the anvil bars 36 which also operate to prevent crowding of material being ground in the arched cover 14 as well as holding back too free delivery of the material. The ground material is delivered through the screenplate 37 into the trough 40 to be removed by the conveyor 41 to the exhaust fan 43 for discharge at a suitable point. The pulley 47 operating the lever 50 affects operation of the two conveyors, reciprocation of the links 55 and 65 resulting in continuous rotation of the ratchet wheels 58 and 64.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:-- 1 1. In a grinder of the character described, an endless feed table, a superposed material compressor and feeder above the feed table, a rotary grinder to receive material fed by the feed table and feeder locatedaxially above the feed table, and operating means for the endless feed table and combined material compressor and feeder including a pivoted lever, a ratchet wheel operatively associated with the feed table and a ratchet wheel operatively associated with the feeder and link connections between the-pivoted lever and ratchet wheels including reversely operatingpawls engaged with the ratchet wheels for continuously rotating the ratchet wheels and means for operating the lever and rotary grinder.

2. In a grinder of the character described, an endless feed table, a superposed materialcompressor and feeder above the feed table, a rotary grinder to receive material fed by the feed table and feeder located axially above the feed table, said feeder being pivotally mounted with the free end thereof engaged with the upper side of the material, and operating means for the endless feed table and combined material compressor and feeder including a pivoted lever, aratchet wheel operatively associated with the feed table and a ratchet wheel operatively associated with the feeder and link connections between the pivoted lever and ratchet wheels including reversely operating pawls engaged with the ratchet wheels for continuously rotating the ratchet wheels and means for operating the lever and rotary grinder.

EARNEST M. .WETMORLE. 

